The figure of Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, XVIII Duchess of Alba, returns to the center of the cultural scene with the arrival in Madrid of one of the most anticipated exhibitions of 2026. After being a notable success in Seville, the exhibition “Cayetana: Great of Spain” will be installed in the Liria Palace, offering the public a unique opportunity to learn more about the life, legacy and historical dimension of one of the most influential women in the contemporary Spanish aristocracy.
This Exhibition on the 18th Duchess of Alba in Madrid is emerging as one of the great cultural events of the year and is part of the exhibition program of the Casa de Alba Foundation, reaffirming the role of the Liria Palace as a reference space for the dissemination of historical and artistic heritage in the capital.
The exhibition was initially presented in Seville on March 4 with the presence of His Excellency the King, in an environment closely linked to the Duchess's personal life. Its excellent reception from the public and critics has motivated its move to Madrid, where it will reach a new dimension thanks to the historical and symbolic context of the Liria Palace.
This transfer consolidates the Casa de Alba exhibition as a long-standing cultural project, designed to bring to the general public not only the biography of Cayetana, but also the role of the Casa de Alba in the history of Spain. In Madrid, the exhibition adapts to the palace's discourse, incorporating new readings that dialogue with the building's historic spaces.
“Cayetana: Grande de España” offers a chronological and thematic journey through the Duchess's life, from her childhood to her consolidation as a key figure in the social, cultural and media landscape of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century.
Through personal documents, unpublished photographs, artistic pieces and symbolic elements of his daily life, the exhibition allows us to understand the complexity of a character who knew how to combine tradition and modernity. This Exhibition about Doña Cayetana is not limited to a biographical story, but rather offers a contextualized look at his time, his cultural legacy and his influence on Spanish culture.
The exhibition is curated by Eugenia Martínez de Irujo and Cristina Carrillo de Albornoz, a combination that provides both a personal perspective and a rigorous approach from the curatorial field.
The direct involvement of Eugenia Martínez de Irujo, Cayetana's daughter, gives the project a unique emotional and testimonial dimension, while the experience of Cristina Carrillo de Albornoz guarantees a solid, documented and accessible expository speech. The result is a balanced exhibition that connects with diverse audiences, from specialists to visitors interested in history and culture.
The exhibition project establishes a dialogue between two fundamental spaces in the Duchess's life: the Palacio de las Dueñas, his most personal residence, and the Palacio de Liria, the historic headquarters of the Casa de Alba in Madrid.
While Las Dueñas represented the most intimate and everyday environment, Liria embodies the institutional, cultural and patrimonial dimension of the family. This spatial transition reinforces the narrative of the exhibition and allows the visitor to understand how both places marked different stages in Doña Cayetana's life.
La Exhibition at the Palacio de Liria can be visited starting in September 2026. Although the specific dates will be announced soon, everything suggests that it will become one of the main cultural events of the season.
For those who are planning their cultural agenda or looking for What exhibitions to see in Madrid in September 2026, this sample is presented as an essential option. The Liria Palace will allow access to the exhibition through guided or free tour models, integrated into its regular program of cultural visits.
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Located in the heart of Madrid, the Liria Palace is one of the city's great heritage landmarks. Its architecture, its history and its valuable artistic collection make it the ideal setting for an exhibition of this relevance.
With the arrival of “Cayetana: Grande de España”, the palace reinforces its commitment to exhibitions that combine historical rigor, social interest and a narrative close to the visitor. This Exhibition of the XVIII Duchess of Alba in Madrid This adds to a program that consolidates Liria as one of the capital's essential cultural spaces in 2026.
The exhibition will not only allow us to rediscover Doña Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, but also to delve into the history of the Casa de Alba and its link with Spanish cultural life, making it a key event for those looking for quality exhibitions in Madrid.